Text
Jahrmann M, Brandstetter T, Glasauer S. (2025). TREEgame Design Reflections and Dispatches from Treewhere. In: Conference Proceedings of DiGRA 2025: Games at the Crossroads, University Valetta. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26503/dl.v2025i2.2488 keywords: ludic method, board game, critical play, environmentalism, game mechanics In this paper we describe and reflect the design process of a radically new approach in experimental game design, applying Ludic Method and The Psycholudic Approach in an idea of games for/with non-humans: The Tree Game prototype is an experimental board game that investigates new ways of addressing environmentalism, democracy and the relationship between society and nature. Our game features two radical mechanics: 1. A fundamental asymmetry in rules between the roles of “citizen” and “industrialist” and “lake” and “wood”. While the first two play something akin to a typical Eurogame, the latter can’t influence the game state, but instead play a drawing game that prioritizes creativity and expression. 2. Players’ roles are switched randomly at irregular intervals. This means that each player will potentially play each role during the game. Our aim is to create a game that lets the players embody multi-perspectivity and radically different concepts of agency.
